Tested by Reality: African Innovations That Pass "The Test"
How "real" is your solution? 🤔 See if you can pass this test
Hey, Dear Innovator 💫
Happy weekend to you!
For some, the next two days will mean a moment of rest from the hassles of a (hopefully?) productive week. For others, the “party” never stops.
Whatever side of the divide that you fall into, it’s all good. No judgement here! 🤝
Africa's narrative of innovation is defined not by its challenges, but by the resolute spirit of willing Innovators who transform obstacles into groundbreaking solutions. In a landscape where our everyday realities give rise to both local and global impact, tech can be said to be a tool for immediate change and a foundation for sustainable growth.
In this series, we’ll:
Explore stories that not only solve problems but also challenge our understanding of what's possible when determination meets creativity.
Delve into how ingenuity, resilience, and technical excellence converge to create innovations that are reshaping communities and redefining progress.
1. The Test Of Relevance
Local relevance and social impact are the cornerstones of Africa’s innovation narrative. Here, tech is not an abstract concept but a pragmatic response to deeply rooted challenges, transforming everyday realities through practical solutions.
‘What then is local relevance without the right problem-solution fit?’, You might ask 🤔 Well, don’t think too hard ‘cos M-Pesa takes centre stage on this!
Their success in addressing the financial exclusion problem in Kenya set a benchmark for how tech can offer practical solutions to everyday challenges. They did this by leveraging the widespread use of mobile phones, which allowed them to bypass the need for traditional banking infrastructure. This not only facilitates everyday transactions but also significantly boosts financial inclusion, thereby empowering their users to engage in economic activities that were previously out of reach.
Likewise, the system’s design, which prioritises affordability, ease-of-use, and accessibility, has fundamentally reshaped how financial services are delivered in Africa’s resource-constrained environment, setting a benchmark for innovation that addresses real-world problems. Talk about solving a problem to the t!
Closer to home, Tech Herfrica is transforming digital and financial inclusion for rural women in Nigeria by providing digital literacy programmes, e-commerce access, and tailored financial tools. This integrated approach not only equips rural women with essential digital skills but also creates a supportive ecosystem to drive their economic independence and growth.
Since we’re on the topic of supporting an entire community of people with tech, the Voiceout Deaf farming collective in South Africa is a prime example of social impact and community adoption. Tech doesn’t get more niched and relevant than this!
This initiative enables deaf individuals to build agricultural skills and find meaningful employment, thereby enhancing the deaf community’s wellbeing and economic participation where traditional communication methods fall short.
Dear Innovator, as you build, ask yourself these essential questions: Does my solution address an everyday problem affecting many people? Are there minority or disadvantaged communities that other innovators might be overlooking? How can i come in?
It really doesn’t get simpler than this!
Dear Incredible Female Innovators,
Happy IWD to you!
We see you—truly see you—and we’re in awe of the passion, resilience, and unwavering dedication you pour into everything you do. Your hard work doesn’t go unnoticed; it lights the way for so many. Today, we celebrate you with all our hearts 💜🤍💙
2. The Test Of Scalability & Sustainability
“First, you build. Then, you fight to survive in the market ‘cos people (your users) don’t always know what they want until you show it to them”
— Source: Steve Jobs (the one from Ibadan)
Wanna hear a story? 👇
Since its inception, Lumkani (a networked heat detector designed to reduce fire risks in informal settlements) has rapidly established a dominant foothold in South Africa's fire safety market. In 2014, they rolled out roughly 7,000 networked heat detectors, and by 2015, an additional 5,000 units were installed in Cape Town’s highest fire-risk community. In the years that followed, they’ve steadily expanded their reach, integrating the tech solution into fire safety protocols across numerous high-risk areas.
Incase it wasn’t obvious from the example, the focus point is market penetration.
Market penetration serves as a real-world litmus test for both sustainability and scalability. When a tech solution is able to penetrate a market deeply, it demonstrates that the innovation meets a real and recurring need that people can’t do without. In tech, this isn’t just about capturing your market share but rather, about laying the foundation for enduring impact and sustainable growth.
For Lumkani, their measurable user growth highlights strong local acceptance with promising expansion beyond their initial market.
On the financial viability front (another litmus test for both sustainability and scalability), innovations like ACE One and Ecotutu’s solar-powered cold storage solutions are making impressive strides.
With structured, installment-based payment models and funding milestones from int’l and local investors, these companies demonstrate both cost-effectiveness and the capacity to operate sustainably in Africa where users have limited resources. They illustrate how smart financing and adaptable business models are key to long-term viability.
Dear Innovator, do people actually want to use your product? Are they willing to pay you for it? Does your current business model provide the foundation for your long-term plans?
If you’ve answered ‘no’ to any of the above questions, it’s probably time to rethink some details in your innovation journey 🙂
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